Railway-switch



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

H. P. SPAIN.

RAILWAY SWITCH.

No. 575,740. Patented Jan. 26, 1897.

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2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

(oMode'l.) H. P. SPAIN.

RAILWAY SWITGH.

Patented Jan. 26, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY PATRICK SPAIN, OF BUCHANAN, GEORGIA.

RAILWAY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,740, dated January26, 1897.

Application filed August 24,1896. Serial No. 603,728. (No model.)

To all 'LU/m77?, t 'may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY PATRICK SPAIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buchanan, in the county of Haralson and State of Georgia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway- Switches;and I do hereby declare the follow ing to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inrailway-switches 5` and it has for its object, among others, to providea simple and cheap construction of switch and switch-operating devicemounted upon the car, whereby the switch is operated by the gripman ormotorman withoutthe necessity of leaving the car.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention in this instance resides in the peculiar combinations andthe construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, alias more fullyhereinafter described, shown in thevdrawings, and then particularlypointed out in the appended claims. l

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, forln a partof thisspecification, and in which Figure l is an elevation showing theapplication of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through theswitch,showing its spring, and a vertical cross-section through thefront end of the car. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the mechanism of thecar shown in a raised position. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the track andswitch.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates themain track, B the side track, and O the movable switch. This ispivotally mounted at one end, as at c, and its other end is held to therail by spring D, concealed beneath the road-bed, acting upon thedependent arm d on the end of the switch, and which is movable in theslot, providing therefor a cover by the plate B', projecting laterallyfrom the side of the switch. Outside of the rail is a spring-arm E, oneend of which is secured to the rail, and its other end bent horizontallyand extending through the slot e in the rail and bearing against theswitch near its movable end. This springarm is inclined outward, asshown in the drawings. It will thus be seen that when the arm is pressedinward by any cause the switch is moved against the tension of itsspring, and when the pressure is removed from said arm the springreturns the switch to its normal position.

The mechanism employed for operating the switch comprises the rod F,mounted to work Vthrough the opening in the platform of the car, theport-ion thereof beneath the platform working through a tube or guide G,and its lower end bent or expanded horizontally, as at f, lengthwise ofthe car, then downward, as at f', and horizontally, as at f2, and outhis horizontal portion is a roller H, adapted to travel upen\ the upperface of the rail. At the outer endsof this horizontal portion is adependent arm I, which is adapted to travel by the side of the rail andto engage the spring-arm which moves the switch. This rod is provided atits upper end with a handle, or, if designed to be actuated bythe foot,with a foot-piece J.

K is aspring confined within the tube G, and serves to normally keep therod in its upmost position. L is a combined brace and Y guide for thisrod.

With the parts constructed and arranged substantially as above describedthe operation will be apparent, and, briefly stated, is as follows: Asthe car approaches the switch, and if design ed to be switched from thetrack on which it is moving, the person on the car depresses the rodagainst the action of its spring, which brings the lower end of the rodinto such position that its roller engages the upper face of the railand its projecting portion rides upon the side of the rail, and as itapproaches the spring-arm it rides upon the same, forcing it upward andmoving the switch against the tension of the spring. After the car haspassed the switch the spring thereof returns it to its normal position,and the spring on the car forces the rod up into its normal position.

ICO

Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of the invention or sacrificing any ot' its advantages.

That is claimed as new is 1. The combination with the rail and thepivoted switch on a spring-arm arranged alongside the rail and inclinedoutward7 and having its other end passed through the rail and engagingthe switch, and the spring act-` ing to normally force the switchagainst the rail, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the rail and a pivoted switch ou a spring-armarranged alongside the rail and inclined outward, and having its otherend passed through the rail and engaging the switch, and a springmounted to act upon the switch to normally force it against the rail,and the plates carried by the switch and covering the slot through whichits arm Works, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the rail and a pivotedswtch on an inclined armhaving au end passed through the rail and mounted to act upon theswitch, and a spring acting to normally force the switch against therail, and a rod on the oar having a portion to engage said arm, and aspring acting upon said rod to normally hold it in its uppermostposition, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

HENRY PATRICK SPAIN.

\Vitnesses:

J. S. M. Biccnns, J. J. CoALsoN.

